polio drive Pakistan targets 79 high-risk districts in renewed push
The polio drive Pakistan initiative will mobilize thousands of frontline health workers, supported by provincial health departments and international partners, to administer oral polio vaccine (OPV) doses to millions of children. Officials say the synchronized campaign will focus on interrupting virus transmission in vulnerable areas, particularly in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and parts of southern Punjab.
The effort is part of Pakistan’s long-running eradication program supported by global health agencies, including World Health Organization (WHO) Pakistan initiatives on polio eradication, which have helped reduce case numbers significantly over the past decade.
According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Pakistan remains one of only two countries where wild poliovirus transmission has not yet been fully interrupted. Continued campaigns have been essential in reducing outbreaks and strengthening routine immunization coverage, as outlined in Global Polio Eradication Initiative program updates.
Health authorities say the 2026 campaign builds on earlier national drives conducted in previous years, including intensified immunization rounds reported in 2024 and 2025, which helped contain cross-border virus spread and environmental detections in urban centers. These efforts have consistently relied on coordinated emergency operations, community engagement, and mobile vaccination units.
UNICEF has played a key role in supporting vaccination logistics, training, and public awareness campaigns in Pakistan, particularly in underserved communities where vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. More information on ongoing support programs is available through UNICEF Pakistan health and immunization programs.
Officials emphasize that the upcoming campaign will also strengthen monitoring systems and rapid response teams, especially in border districts where virus importation risk remains high due to population movement with neighboring Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Expanded Program on Immunization continues to coordinate national eradication efforts with support from international partners and domestic health institutions, as outlined by Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme official updates.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that polio remains highly infectious but preventable through vaccination, underscoring the importance of repeated immunization rounds in endemic regions. Additional background on disease transmission and prevention is available at CDC polio information resources.
Health experts say sustained vaccination coverage, improved surveillance, and community trust remain critical to achieving full eradication. Authorities have urged parents to ensure children receive all scheduled doses during the upcoming campaign to prevent further virus circulation.
